Page 116 of Freeing Denver

“First,” Alistair says, clearly trying to save Colt, “we need to discuss what we’re doing with Eli.”

“Eli?” I ask. “He’s alive?” Alistair nods, and I sink back into the cushions. “Where is he?”

“At another safe house,” Colt says. “Lucas is with him now, trying to find out what he knows about Marnie.”

“You think she could still be alive?”

Colt nods, and I twist my fingers together. I can’t believe I fell for whoever pretended to be Marnie. I’d only ever seen one photo of her in passing, so I suppose I can’t blame myself, especially when it was an old photograph, too.

But the way she’d asked about Holly, her concern when she’d found out I was being sold on … it had all seemed so genuine.

“Did we find who pretended to be Marnie?” I ask.

Alistair folds his arms. “Another woman trafficked, we’re guessing. We’re trying to ID her, but she’ll likely be long gone by now.”

I hope she got out. I hope she’s safe. Even if she did lie to me, to imagine what she’s been through … she was trying to survive, too.

“I want to keep Eli alive,” I say, and Colt watches me but doesn’t question it.

“How long?” he asks.

I wet my lips, take another drink, and say, “Seven-two days, six hours. To the fucking minute.” Another swig of the drink. “Then he dies slowly.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

My attention shifts to Kitrick as he enters the room. He’s moving stiffly, likely still in agony after what Spider did to him. Despite how we met, despite what we went through, it’s still a relief to see him, even if he is Quinn’s brother. My jaw was on the floor when Colt told me that, but it explains his dedication to his job, at least. It’s clearly a family trait.

“Cop’s here, everybody cease anything illegal,” Taf says, and Sandy cackles.

I smile. “Ignore him. Are you feeling any better?”

Kitrick rolls his shoulder. “Not really. Are you?”

I shrug. “Just happy to be home. Have you heard from the bureau?”

Charlie, Sandy, and Taf all pretend to gag, and Colt grins from beside me. Even Alistair smiles.

Kitrick glares at them. “Yes. They’ve let my department know the truth about my cover. I’ve spoken to Quinn, too.”

More exaggerated gagging. I laugh and throw a pillow at Sandy. “Leave him alone; he can’t help who he’s related to.”

“He can help who he is, though!” Taf says. “I bet he rehearses the Miranda rights in the shower.”

Sandy collapses back into the cushions laughing. I shake my head at them.

“I’m guessing Quinn wants to speak to me?” I ask.

“I’ve convinced her to lay off for a few days,” he says.

A small weight is lifted. It’s evidence of how fucked up my life is that a murder charge is one of the smaller problems I’ve had recently, but at least I’ve got a few days to figure out how the hell to deal with that.

“Thank you,” I say.

Kitrick nods. “Quinn is on her way to pick me up. She should be here any?—”

Everyone bolts from the room as if he’s announced a toxic gas is about to be released. Even Alistair makes an excuse and is gone before Kitrick can finish his sentence.

I stand, going to Kitrick. I doubt this will be the last time I see him, but it might be my final chance to really thank him for all he did. It’s unlikely he can be entirely truthful about his involvement in the massacre at Spider’s home, even though he saved me. Saved all of us.